The Grace of God in our lives.

Dear brothers and sisters,

I want to thank everyone of you who continually read and mantain this blog for the glorification of our Father in heaven. Thank you for the time you spend writing, reading and I sincerely hope that you would be blessed indeed.

The GRACE of GOD.

So what is the Grace of God?

Grace used in the context of the bible means undeserved favour. How is this different from mercy? It seems that some do use it interchangebly but well, it all boils down to this, mercy refers to undeserved pardon, and grace, an extension of that, undeserved favour. Undeserved favour that God has promised to carry us through life, so that "[Man] may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

Favour that God will give to you not only in his sight but in man's just as Jesus "grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and Man." (Luke 2:52)

Let us not cease to remember the great amount of favour that God pours into our lives. Be it the teacher that favours you over others though you do nothing out of the ordinary. (I personally have had many of those encounters, even when I admittedly may not like the teacher at all). Moreover, let us claim this favour that God has bestowed upon us because we are now sons (and daughters) of God and as Christ in us is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), the birthright to God's favour in our lives is opened to us.

With this birthright, the Grace of God in our lives, we have the promise that God will meet all our needs according to His glorious riches in glory. (Phillippians 4:19). Well some may twist and turn this to being the only reason for being a Christian, (some call it the prosperity gospel). Let us remember that this 'prosperity gospel' is also an important part of being a Christian (though not everything). As John ends with an exhortation saying "Beloved I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." (3 John 2) do and believe likewise.

Think of it this way, as a Father to child, spoiling and discipling him when the time is right, to make him more into his image each day. To allow his child to show the world how different he/she is, that God has made a difference in his/her life, that God has changed him/her, that God has brought him through all the trials and tribulations. This is the Grace of God.

Grace also happens to mean elegance in the beauty of movement and a sense of propreity and consideration for others. How apt, I feel, that Grace as an outward expression in our lives is just that. For people to see the beauty of our movement guided by Christ our Lord and our care for the people around us.

So let me encourage all of us not cease to remember the Grace of God in our lives, acknowledging His presence in every activity, every action and every little favour that people around us show us. Knowing well that through this, we are being transformed into his likeness more and more. People are always watching. Let your change by the Grace of God be a testimony to them and allow them to seek and find the ABSOLUTE TRUTH of all time, Jesus Christ.

Yours In Christ,

-Caleb

The source of our strength

Greetings to you, my dear friends!

i would like to share 2 verses with you:

Isaiah 26:3-4
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
Trust in the LORD forever,
For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.

Yes, our God is the source of everlasting strength and perfect peace.
He is worthy of our fixed attention and abiding trust.

During this examination period, it is tempting and easy to compromise and neglect our quality time with God, but let us constantly remind ourselves to fix our minds on Him, to place our trust in Him, even as we focus on our studies, because only He can give us true peace and strength to overcome life's challenges.

* * * * * * * * * *

(: Don't these verses also remind you of the famous phrase, "the joy of the Lord is your strength", which subsequently reminds you of the secret of true joy: Jesus. Others. You?

Indeed we do not only study hard and excel in exams for our own sake, not merely for personal glory or brighter job prospects. We would like to do well for God's glory; to multiply the talents and resources He has generously bestowed upon us. We would also like to do well for others, such as loved ones who hope for the best in us, and also for the underprivileged ones in the world. There are millions of people who do not have access to proper education and are living in poverty while we enjoy high standard of living and world-class education. Hence, we must not waste our resources and talents, but must make full use of them and serve the underprivileged ones in the near future, just like what Jesus did.

May we find joy during this examination period as we elevate and expand our minds to stay on Christ and others.

May we also bring Heaven to Earth even as we try to get many people to Heaven from Earth.

The Role of each Fruit of the Spirit

Often times, we hear how Love is the Greatest of them all (1 Corinthians 13:13). We see how it is always placed before the "fruits of the spirit" as we call it. But we see that in Galatians 5:22, it is the singular usage of the word "fruit".

What does this tell us about the Love? The love that God is shared abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit? It encompasses everything. I'm timely reminded of the Beatle's song "All you need is Love", well how true it is! Many things people do for Love, the Bible tells us that "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."- John 15:13

The Father has given up His Son for us, so like him, let the things that we do, the reason we live be Love. Loving our father in heaven in relationship, may our lives fulfill the call to be sons [and daughters] (Romans 8:15), above all else. In that love will we glorify him in joy, a joy in service and worship to Him. Knowing well that His arms are open wide, waiting for us to dwell in Him.

"Love requires a relationship personally between you and the father on a continuing, ongoing basis.

Joy is Love's Strength

Peace is Love's Security

Patience is Love's Endurance

Kindness is Love's Conduct

Goodness is Love's Character

Faithfulness is Love's Confidence

Gentleness is Love's Humility

Self-Control is Love's Victory"

(Ron DePriest. The Spiritual Mentor. Destiny Image Publishers, Incorporated. 2005.)

Let us learn more about our Father in Heaven, Loving Him more each day, glorifying Him in our relationship with Him today!

As a son in his Father's Service,

-Caleb

You are Here (The Same Power)

While listening to some of the songs that I knew well, I stumbled onto this song by Hillsong,

You are Here (The Same Power)

There is a love that I know
A strength for the weak and the broken heart
My Shepherd and King
I find You within me
For you are here
My Lord forever
You are here

You carried the cross for the world
Gathered the lost and the fatherless
My Shepherd and King
I find You within me
For You are here
My Lord forever
You are here

In this place, you are here
By Your mercy, I draw near
In my heart, take your place
You are here

Your word is the light of the earth
Your glory resounds in the universe
My Shepherd and King
I find You within me
For You are here
My Lord forever
You are here

The same power that conquered the grave
Lives in me, Lives in me
Your love that rescued the earth
Lives in me, lives in me

Always remembering that the same power that lives in us has conquered the grave, has conquered sin. Let us not fear anything but God.

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. - 2 Timothy 1:7

and with that:

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:13

Go forth in Faith that HE will help you conquer temptation and that the victory is already won!

HE LIVES IN YOU!

-Caleb